Noting the Maple Leafs are "facing real live competition in
the [Toronto] sports marketplace" for the first time, Stephen
Brunt of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL writes the Raptors and Leafs
are "jockeying" for fan support "right in front of the paying
public." Brunt credits Raptors Exec VP Isiah Thomas for his
"boldness" and "creativity" in not making "expansion excuses"
last season and buying the franchise more "fan patience." Brunt:
"The Raptors are trying to get better, fast, which might make
things just a little bit uncomfortable for a hockey team that at
this moment seems on the verge of entering yet another ownership-
driven dark ages" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/8).
REMEMBER, COTTON SHRINKS: A "rumor" that the Leafs plan to
"overhaul" their logo and sweater in two years when they hope to
move into a new arena was denied by Leafs Dir of Business
Ops/Communications Bob Stellick, according to Lance Hornby of the
TORONTO SUN. Hornby writes the "classic" Leaf currently featured
on the shoulder patch could become the "dominant crest," with the
new team logo moved to the shoulder. The change could also see
the color black added to the current blue and white. The Leafs'
Stellick said, "Not true. We're told by the league our sweater
is already in the top four or five sellers. ... We have a sweater
that's never gone out of style and we're happy with it" (TORONTO
STAR, 10/8).
EXTINCT IN HALIFAX? The Raptors are "threatening" not to
play any more pre-season games in Halifax because of "sluggish"
ticket sales for Friday's game with the Hawks, according to Bill
Harris of the TORONTO SUN. Harris adds ticket sales are also
"very slow" for pre-season contests against the Knicks in Ottawa
and the Heat in Buffalo. Raptors VP/Events & Operations Brian
Cooper, on sales: "We're perplexed. It's one of the hotbeds of
basketball in Canada." Only 7,000 tickets have been sold for the
Knicks game and "whispers" suggest the Heat matchup is in the
"worst shape of all" (TORONTO SUN, 10/8).

Oilers DB Cris Dishman has filed a grievance against the
Oilers in conjunction with the NFLPA over the team's method of
paying its players. Dishman and the NFLPA want to force the
Oilers to pay players over the 17-week regular season rather than
the current policy of paying 1/3 of the salary over the season,
1/3 before April and 1/3 in May. The grievance is scheduled to
be heard by an arbitrator in Houston next week (HOUSTON
CHRONICLE, 10/8)....The block on Chicago Avenue between 4th and
5th Streets in front of the Metrodome Plaza was officially
renamed Kirby Puckett Place. The Twins offices are not located
at 34 Kirby Puckett Place (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE,
10/8)....Twins Owner Carl Pohlad said he is not interested in
selling the club and has not been approached by either Clark
Griffith or Vance Opperman, who both have expressed interest.
Pohlad: "The club is not for sale. Opperman hasn't talked to
me" (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 10/6)....NFL Dir of Communications
Greg Aiello said Bears LB Bryan Cox will receive a fine of "at
least $10,000" for making an obscene gesture at an official
during Sunday's loss to Green Bay. Aiello: "Abuse of game
officials is against our rules, both physical contact and extreme
verbal abuse (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/8).

Despite reaching the NLCS for the first time since '87, the
Cardinals will still lose money this year under the direction of
its first year owners, according to Josh Gotthelf of the ST.
LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. Fred Hanser, Chair of the group which
purchased the club from Anheuser-Busch in March, said being in
the playoffs "could help," but probably "won't have a big impact
on the team's bottom line." In their sweep of the Padres, the
club received "about" 7.5% of the ticket revenue, which was
around $50,000-$75,000 a game for each team. Cardinals President
Mark Lamping, asked if the organization would lose less than the
$12M it claimed to lose in '95: "I don't think it would be fair
to say that." However, Lamping adds, the "real benefits" of
being in the playoffs will be "felt next year, not this year."
The reconfiguration of Busch Stadium to include more high-end
seats will generate about "about" $3M a year in additional ticket
revenue. Club owners will reportedly discuss "further
renovations," which could include adding more luxury seats close
to the field and removing a portion of the upper deck, during
this off-season. The team has taken "several steps toward
making" it profitable in the future by reaching new radio/TV
deals and increasing stadium signage, including a deal with The
Gap, estimated at $100,000 a year, for "Gap" signs in the
outfield (ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/7 issue).